# US 10,119,242 B1 · Front loader mounting arrangement for a work vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,242 B1 - Document ID: US10119242B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/937,092 - Filed: 2018-03-27 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-27 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Deere & Company - Inventors: Damien Faivre; Paul Baulieu; Jerome Bernard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119242B1 ## CPC - E02F 3/3695: {Arrangements for connecting dipper-arms to loaders or graders} - E02F 3/627: Devices to connect beams or arms to tractors or similar self-propelled machines, {e.g. drives therefor (connection of beams or booms or arms to the frame per se E02F3/382; connection of scraper bowls to the vehicle main body E02F3/653; connecting devices for agriculture tractors A01B59/06)} - A01B 59/061: {specially adapted for enabling connection or disconnection controlled from the driver's seat (not used, see subgroups)} - A01B 59/064: {for connection to the front of the tractor} - E02F 3/6273: {using legs to support the beams or arms on the ground during the connecting process} - E02F 3/3618: {with two separating hooks} - E02F 3/382: {Connections to the frame; Supports for booms or arms (devices to connect booms or arms to tractors or similar machines E02F3/627; pivot joint assemblies in particular E02F9/006)} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) ## Abstract A mast coupling arrangement for mounting a front loader to a work vehicle at a mounting frame defining connection points and a load point includes a mounting bracket mounted at an end of a mast of the front loader, and a first mast connector removably coupling the mounting bracket and one of the connection points of the mounting frame when the front loader is attached. The mast coupling arrangement includes a load element mounted to the mast that, when the front loader is attached, is in load transferring contact with the load point of the mounting frame. The mast coupling arrangement includes a second mast connector removably coupling the mounting bracket and another of the connection points of the mounting frame when the front loader is attached to. The second mast connector and the associated connection point of the mounting frame are separable when the front loader is attached. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mast coupling arrangement for mounting a front loader to a work vehicle at a mounting frame defining connection points and a load point, the mast coupling arrangement comprising: a mounting bracket mounted at a proximal end of a mast of the front loader; a first mast connector removably coupling the mounting bracket and one of the connection points of the mounting frame when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle; a load element mounted to the mast and, when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle, being in load transferring contact with the load point of the mounting frame; and a second mast connector removably coupling the mounting bracket and another of the connection points of the mounting frame when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle; wherein the first mast connector and the load element contact the mounting frame before the second mast connector when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mast coupling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the connections points of the mounting frame include a first connection point spaced apart from a second connection point. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mast coupling arrangement of claim 2, wherein the first mast connector is a first pin and the second mast connector is a second pin; and wherein the first and second connection points of the mounting frame are respective first and second open-sided recesses each sized to receive the respective first and second pins. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mast coupling arrangement of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second pins is removably coupled to the mounting bracket through at least one opening in the mounting bracket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The mast coupling arrangement of claim 4, wherein, when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle, the load element engages the load point of the mounting frame so that the at least one opening in the mounting bracket aligns with at least one of the first and second recesses of the mounting frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The mast coupling arrangement of claim 5, wherein the first pin is fixed to the mounting bracket; and wherein the second pin is removably connected to the mounting bracket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mast coupling arrangement of claim 6, wherein the load element is a multi-sided bar and the load point of the mounting frame is a multi-sided notch having complementary sides configured to engage at least two sides of the bar in surface contact. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The mast coupling arrangement of claim 7, wherein the notch is located on the mounting frame between the first and second recesses. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mast coupling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket includes a pair of bracket plates that cooperate to define a channel receiving the mounting frame when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle. ### Claim 10 A work vehicle, comprising: a mounting frame having a load point and first and second connection points; a removable front loader having a mast; and a mast coupling arrangement, including: a mounting bracket mounted at a proximal end of the mast of the front loader; a first mast connector removably coupling the mounting bracket and the first connection point of the mounting frame when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle; a load element mounted to the mast and, when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle, being in load transferring contact with the load point of the mounting frame; and a second mast connector removably coupling the mounting bracket and the second connection point of the mounting frame when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle; wherein the first mast connector and the load element contact the mounting frame before the second mast connector when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The work vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first mast connector is a first pin and the second mast connector is a second pin; and wherein the first and second connection points of the mounting frame are respective first and second open-sided recesses each sized to receive the respective first and second pins. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The work vehicle of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second pins is removably coupled to the mounting bracket through at least one opening in the mounting bracket. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The work vehicle of claim 12, wherein, when the front loader is attached to the work vehicle, the load element engages the load point of the mounting frame so that the at least one opening in the mounting bracket aligns with at least one of the first and second recesses of the mounting frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The work vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first pin is fixed to the mounting bracket; and wherein the second pin is removably connected to the mounting bracket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The work vehicle of claim 14, wherein the load element is a multi-sided bar and the load point of the mounting frame is a multi-sided notch located on the mounting frame between the first and second recesses and having complementary sides configured to engage at least two sides of the bar in surface contact. ### Claim 16 A method for coupling a front loader having a mast to a work vehicle having a mounting frame, the mounting frame including a first mounting frame connection point spaced apart from a second mounting frame connection point and a mounting frame load point between the first mounting frame connection point and the second mounting frame connection point, the method comprising: hooking the first mounting frame connection point on a first mast connector that extends from a mounting bracket mounted to the mast of the front loader; rotating the mast such that a mast load element contacts the mounting frame load point to align an opening in the bracket with the second mounting frame connection point; and inserting a removable second mast connector through the opening in the mounting bracket to engage the second mounting frame connection point of the mounting frame after the first mounting frame connection point is hooked on the first mast connector and the mast load element contacts the mounting frame load point. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the hooking the first mounting frame connection point on the first mast connector further comprises: advancing the work vehicle toward the front loader to hook the first mounting frame connection point on the first mast connector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the rotating the mast further comprises: rotating the mast such that a first side and a second side of the mast load element contact a first surface and a second surface of the mounting frame load point, the first side of the mast load element at an angle to the second side. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein first mast connector is a fixed pin fixed to the mounting bracket; and wherein the first mounting frame connection point is a first open-sided recess sized to receive the fixed pin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second mast connector is a removable pin; and wherein the second mounting frame connection point is a second open-sided recess sized to receive the removable pin.